League Report: UCD 3 - 0 Athlone Town

UCD secured a 3-0 victory over bottom of the table Athlone Town at the UCD Bowl on Friday evening thanks to a first-half strike from Georgie Kelly and late goals from Jason McCelland and Daire O’Connor.

Many viewed this game as one which UCD would win easy but they didn’t have it all their own way in the opening half an hour as the first chance of real substance actually fell to the away side.

Brian Cabraley raced through after muscling his way past College defender Josh Collins before unleashing a powerful effort that clipped the top of the bar on its way into the bushes behind the goal.

Seconds later, Georgie Kelly went close for UCD as he was played through by the quick thinking Daire O’Connor.

Kelly tried to chip the ball over the onrushing Town keeper Darcy Lawless but his effort failed to stay below the crossbar.

The striker rushed through moments later after a neat ball from Timmy Molloy before attempting to round the keeper only for an apparent touch by Lawless sent him to the turf.

Referee Paula Brady waved away the protests and pointed for a goal-kick instead.

O’Neill was beginning to pull the strings for the Students in midfield, first with a cross to Kelly at the back post and then setting up the game’s opening goal.

His ball saw McClelland have a shot that came back off the woodwork. This allowed Kelly to apply a tap in of a finish on the rebound and give the home side the lead at the break.

UCD were forced to make a goalkeeping change not long into the second half after Conor Kearns was hit hard by Cabraley – an incident which saw him pick up a yellow card – and Carl Williams entered the fray.

With the game heading into the final quarter Kelly was again at the forefront of the UCD attack. But his efforts were thwarted by the alert Lawless who, at 17 years of age, was certainly being thrown into the deep end in this one.

UCD then scored, even if the record books don’t reflect it, as Daire O’Connor’s effort appeared to be palmed into the roof of the net by Lawless and away only for the match officiating crew to wave play on, much to the disbelief of the men in blue.

With the fourth official preparing to put up his board to signal the additional time, UCD broke away at speed. Daire O’Connor stole away with possession inside his own half before attacking the Town defence at pace. His pass set up McCelland to smash beyond Lawless.

Five minutes additional time meant there was still time for more action. Daire O’Connor cut in from the right after a long ball forward from Collins. O’Connor then smashed a shot beautifully into the top left corner for UCD’s third goal and sealed all three points for the Students.

Photo Gallery for UCD -v- Athlone Town

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